Rays hold off Toronto 7-6, clinch AL wild card tie

Tampa Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar, left, and first baseman James Loney celebrate after turning a seventh inning-ending double play during a baseball game against the Toropnto Blue Jays, Sunday Sept. 29, 2013 in Toronto.

The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn, Associated Press

Summary

Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays assured themselves of at least a tie for an AL wild-card berth, scoring six runs in the first inning and then holding off the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 Sunday.

TORONTO — Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays assured themselves of at least a tie for an AL wild-card berth, scoring six runs in the first inning and then holding off the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 Sunday.

The Rays began the final day of the regular season tied with Texas for the second wild-card slot. Both teams trailed Cleveland by one game for the top spot.

Cleveland played at Minnesota and the Rangers hosted the Los Angeles Angels.

The Rays used their highest-scoring first inning since 2010 to take control early. Tampa Bay led 7-0 going into the sixth before Toronto rallied. The Blue Jays put the go-ahead run at the plate in the eighth and ninth innings.